NEEDLES, Calif – On Friday, September 16 at 3:15 p.m., deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff - Colorado River Station were dispatched to investigate a kidnapping which had occurred at the Katie Hohstadt Elementary School. The investigation revealed that a Needles resident, along with her two 1-year-old children, had given an acquaintance, Arlene Hewitt, a ride to the school so that the mother could pick up her other children. The mother left the children in the car, along with Hewitt.

During the time the mother was away from the vehicle, Hewitt took the car, along with the children and left the mother at the school without her permission or knowledge. Within twenty minutes of discovering her car and children gone, deputies located the mother's car parked and unoccupied in the 100 block of Walnut Street in Needles. Checking a nearby home on Walnut Street, Hewitt and the missing children were located inside the home which belonged to Hewitt’s' family. The children were unharmed and were reunited with their mother. Arlene Hewitt (age 62 of Needles) was arrested and booked at the Colorado River Station jail for kidnapping, grand theft auto and child endangerment. Her bail was set at $250,000.

Persons charged with a crime are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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